NEW HAVEN - Ikea restaurants across the country, including the one in Connecticut, are cancelling an annual culinary tradition due to lack of food, company officials said Monday.

All-you-can-eat crayfish parties were scheduled in stores across the country for September. It is usually a popular event among customers, who show up to eat seafood as well as the Swedish meatballs and all-you-can-eat dessert.

"We regret that we have cancelled this year's Crayfish Party as we are unable to obtain a sufficient quantity of crayfish," IKEA US Sr. PR Specialist Janice Simonsen said in an email Monday. "If we acquire quantities in the next few weeks, we will reschedule the event."

Those who may have already bought their tickets for the event can bring them back to the stores for a full refund, Simonsen said.

In the Ikea New Haven store, ticket sales are handled in the restaurant on the second floor.

The Swedish furniture giant often hosts special events throughout the year in its restaurant with traditional Swedish holiday themes, such as a midsummer party, a Christmas buffet smorgasbord and and Easter dinner.

Company officials would not specify what may be causing the shortage of crayfish, which are also known as crawfish, crawdads or "mud bugs," depending on where you live in the United States.

A company spokesperson in the Denver Ikea also said the food markets inside Ikea would also not be carrying any of the crayfish that is traditionally sold in the store during August and September as a result of the shortage.